Advising Staff - Advising - CSU Channel Islands

Academic Advising Administration

Monica Rivas, Director of Academic Advising
Venus Tamayo, Associate Director of EOP & Academic Advising
Aurora Kewald, Advising Support Coordinator

Academic Advisors

Dr. Monica Rivas

Director of Academic Advising

Monica was hired in January of 2007, starting as an Academic Advisor and working her way up to Director. She grew up in Oxnard in a working-class immigrant family and was a first generation student. She loves being able to work in her community, motivating, and advocating for the advancement of education, access, and the success of all students-however they define it. Monica teaches in the University Experience program and currently serves as the Parliamentarian for the Chicana/o Latina/o Faculty Staff Association. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of California Santa Barbara, a Master of Science degree from California Lutheran University in Counseling and Guidance, College Student Personnel, and a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of California Los Angeles.
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Hannah Smit

Coordinator of Targeted Graduation Initiatives, Academic Advisor

Hannah holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies from UC Irvine, and a Master’s degree in Educational Counseling at University of La Verne. She joined CI in the summer of 2015, in which she brings a wealth of experience in undergraduate advising, graduate admissions and advising, student registration and externship placement. Prior to CI, she served both as an Undergraduate and Graduate Advisor at UCSB for a combined total of nine years, and as a Student Services Assistant at Southwestern Law School just a few months shy of two years.
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Daniela Ochoa

Peer Academic Advising Program Coordinator, Academic Advisor

Daniela received her Bachelor's degrees in Sociology and Spanish from California Lutheran University and went on to obtain her Masters of Education in Postsecondary Administration and Student Affairs from the University of Southern California. Prior to CI, Daniela worked as an undergraduate academic advisor at USC.
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Sara Alcalá

Graduate School Specialist/Advising Analyst

Sara has been working at CI since 2005 and has over two decades of experience working in schools, from elementary to university settings. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from CSUN and a Master’s degree in Counseling and Guidance from California Lutheran University. In Advising, Sara facilitates workshops, campus events, activities and provides resources related to graduate school and postbaccalaureate planning. She enjoys helping students achieve their academic and postbac goals. Sara will help prepare you for and/or learn more about the graduate school admissions process. She looks forward to assisting you with graduate school preparation!
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Karla Anderson

Academic Advisor

Karla joined the Academic Advising office fall 2018 as a graduate intern and was then hired in February 2020. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Communication with an emphasis in Business and Non-profit from California State University, Channel Islands in 2015. She earned her Master’s degree in Counseling and College Student Personnel at California Lutheran University in 2020. Prior to Academic Advising, she worked in the Admissions and Recruitment office at CSUCI as an evaluator. Karla is passionate about working with college students and helping them achieve their academic goals.
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Aracely Flores

Academic Advisor

Aracely completed her Bachelor's degree in Sociology and Master’s degree in Counseling and Guidance both from California Lutheran University. She has been at CI since 2013 and has over 10 years of experience working with college students. Prior to Academic Advising, she served as the Graduate Studies Center Counselor, STEM Academic Success Coach, and STEM Outreach Coordinator. As an Academic Advisor, she aims to assist and encourage all students to pursue their goals. She looks forward to meeting with you!
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Sean Johnson

Academic Advisor

Sean joined the Advising Center in June 2022. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from California State University Northridge and his Master’s in Higher Education Counseling and Student Affairs from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. Prior to coming to CSUCI, Sean was employed as an Academic Advisor at the University of California Santa Cruz. He enjoys working with college students and helping them navigate their way through their academic and non-academic needs.
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Maddy Hitchcock

Academic Advisor

Maddy joined the Academic Advising Center as a professional staff member in Spring 2024. She completed her Bachelor’s here at CSUCI in Spring 2023 as the first graduate with a B.A. in Dance Studies. During her time at CSUCI in undergrad, she worked in the Academic Advising Center as a Peer Advisor from 2021-2023. Peer Advising ultimately changed her career aspirations, and now she plans to stay working in higher education while continuing to support students in any way possible. To support this professional journey, she is currently pursuing an M.S. in Counseling and College Student Personnel at California Lutheran University. Maddy is thrilled to be back in the office that positively changed the trajectory of her career supporting students under the Arts, Education, Humanities, and Undeclared. She hopes to see you soon!
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Venessa Hutchins

Academic Advisor

Venessa Hutchins joined the Advising team in April of 2024. She previously worked at CSUCI in Housing & Residential Education for 9.5 years as a Coordinator of Residential Education and a Living-Learning Community & Conduct Coordinator. In the year since her time at CSUCI, Venessa worked as Office Manager & Event Coordinator at the Environmental Defense Center in Santa Barbara. Venessa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz (go slugs!) and a Master of Science in Human Development & Family Studies, with a specialization in College Student Personnel, from the University of Rhode Island (Rhody, Rhody, Rhody, Rams, Rams, Rams). Venessa is excited to get back to the Dolphin Pod and to assist the STEM, pre-Nursing, Nursing and Health Science major cluster as an Academic Advisor!
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Arlene Pendleton

Academic Advisor

Arlene is committed to serving students with guidance that assists them with achieving their goals. She is the daughter of first-generation college graduates who supported her educational and career goals. Arlene earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Southern California and master’s degree in educational counseling from the University of La Verne. Prior to joining the Academic Advising team, she worked in the School of Education at CI as a credential counselor in teacher education since 2014.
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Aurora Kewald

Support Coordinator

Aurora joined CI in March 2017. Previously she worked at Cal State LA for 10 years. She earned a Bachelor's in English at UC Berkeley after transferring from East Los Angeles College.
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